Brand new wheelchair for 116-year-old granny

During the visit of the MEC for Health in Limpopo, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, to two centenarians in January this year for their vaccination jabs, she was dismayed to discover that Granny Nnditsheni Singo (116) of Muledane Block J, just outside Thohoyandou, was struggling to get by in an old and tattered wheelchair.

Ramathuba visited Granny Singo and Grandfather Samuel Ramugondo (100) of Mukula Village to ensure that both received their vaccination jabs from the comfort of their homes.

The MEC said that she was deeply touched when she saw the granny’s worn-out wheelchair and decided to try and replace it. “I instructed the senior management of the health department in Vhembe to see to it that the granny, who will turn 117 in August, receives a new wheelchair. We cannot celebrate our vaccination programme while our elderly people are not comfortable and looked after,” said Ramathuba.

On Friday, 23 July, a team representing the health department in Vhembe visited the Singo-family in Muledane to hand over the new wheelchair.

Ms Fhulufhelo Luvhengo from the Occupational Therapy Unit at Tshilidzini Hospital, said their visit to the elderly lady was to see to it that the department fulfilled its promise, as instructed by the MEC. “We hope that the wheelchair will make life easier for the granny. We told the rest of her family members how best to use and take care of the wheelchair when it was handed over,” Luvhengo said.

One of Granny Singo’s daughters, Ms Olive Makwarela, who also takes care of her mother, spoke on her behalf. “My mother cannot speak well anymore due to old age, but the family is thankful to the Department of Health for remembering and fulfilling their promise. Granny will be able to go to the toilet and travel smoothly now, thanks to the new wheelchair,” Makwarela said.

Date:31 July 2021

By: Silas Nduvheni

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